Holden Wale continues to fulfill his dream of playing elite-level hockey by signing with the Calgary Wranglers of the American Hockey League (AHL).
Wale, who was born and raised in Brantford, quickly rose through the junior ranks as a defenseman, playing first for the U-16 and then for the U-18 Brantford 99ers AAA teams.
“I started playing AAA and worked my way up until the minor midget year. It was great when the new Wayne Gretzky Sports Centre was built [and] we got to play there…having his name attached to the building was amazing [and] when I was drafted by Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds when I was 16, it was exciting because that’s where Wayne Gretzky played too,” said Wale.
Before joining the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, Wale developed his game at the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League (GOJHL) level.
“After I got drafted, I went to my first OHL camp. I signed there, [but] I was reassigned to the Cambridge Winterhawks, where I was coached by Dan Fitzgerald. He’s currently the coach of the Brantford Titans of the GOJHL…he helped me get my stride playing against bigger bodies [and] older players [preparing me] for the OHL,” recounted Wale.
Wale would then get his chance to play with the Greyhounds the next season, and during the following one, contributing to a solid playoff run.
“The Greyhounds treated me very well. It was a great hockey town. I had great billets [and] my teammates and coaching staff were great. I remember we went to the OHL finals in my second year, and that was an unforgettable experience…I got to play with a lot of good players [and] who are now in the NHL, like Morgan Frost, Conor Timmins, Mac Hollowell, and Boris Katchouk. That was probably the main highlight. Although we came up short in the finals…just being able to play with these guys [and] to live with them every day, was important for my development as a hockey player and as a person,” he said.
During this time, the defenseman would find a few mentors among his fellow players.
“Mac [Hollowell] was in the Greyhounds with me for a couple of years [and] he was a few years older than me. He’s not really that undersized, but he’s a smaller defenseman that I loved to watch play and play with. I was really tight with him off the ice, and seeing him get drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs and going on to play some NHL games was exciting,” said Wale. “Another guy who helped me was Joel Carroll. He’s younger than me, by a year, but went into pro hockey a couple of years before I did. And he’s taking full advantage of his opportunities, and he’s done well. He’s one of my best friends to this day.”
After suiting up for a combined 156 regular and playoff games for the Greyhounds, Wale was traded during the 2019-2020 season.
“Obviously, hearing the words ‘you were traded’ coming out of someone’s mouth isn’t the best thing you want to hear. But when I found out that I was being traded to the Kitchener [Rangers], I was pretty ecstatic. I hated leaving the Greyhounds, but going to Rangers was honestly pretty cool…just growing up near there and seeing games in the auditorium, and now getting to play there was something I was looking forward to,” said Wale. “[Also], it was a year where the Rangers were buyers, which meant they were trying to make a run. They had a lot of returning veteran players on the team, and it would have been a very fun playoff run if it wasn’t for COVID.”
However, Wale would only play 23 games for the Rangers as the 2020 – 2021 was canceled because of the pandemic. As it was Wale’s overage year, he was forced to reassess his next step. It turned out to be a blessing in disguise, as he made the decision to play hockey at the university level with the Windsor Lancers of the Ontario University Athletics League (OUA) while pursuing a degree in environmental studies.
“That was one of the hardest things that I’ve ever had to deal with, but in the end, it worked out because I got a great opportunity to be coached by Kevin Hamlin and be part of the Lancers. I loved my time at the OHL, but I thought, after I was done there, it was necessary to get my degree, or at least start out on my degree and going to Windsor was one of the best things I could have done for myself,” said Wale.
During his time at Windsor, Wale leveraged his hockey experience to help other players progress while elevating his play; he also led all OUA defensemen in scoring during the 2023-2024 season, registering 25 points.
“I’ve always been a person who wants to be a leader and help others. In my third year I was named assistant captain…having the ‘A’, is awesome, but even during my first couple years when I didn’t have an ‘A’ on my jersey, I still looked at myself as a leader,” noted Wale. “Whether it was helping guys on the ice or if it was related to [academics], I always tried to help. I think I was just there as a leader my entire tenure at Windsor.”
After three seasons at the University of Windsor, Wale and his team accomplished a fair bit.
“I had some great memories [and there were] some great years with good players around me. During my second year there, we finished second in Ontario. We lost the Queen’s Cup in triple overtime to the University of Quebec, Three Rivers team, and then we ended up going to nationals, which was another great memory,” stated Wale. “Having the OHL experience really helped. But at the same time, just being at school [and] being a student-athlete, with other guys going through school every day too, and then coming to the rink at night was something that helped me develop as a person.”
Wale’s stellar play with Lancers didn’t go unnoticed as the Calgary Wranglers of the AHL reached out to him with a contract.
“The Wranglers approached me and offered me a contract in August [2024] and it was just something that I couldn’t pass up on. It’s something I’ve been working towards my entire life,” explained Wale. “I’m not going to look too far ahead. I’m just going into AHL camp to make the team and obviously stay with the Wranglers and play as many games as possible.”
Nevertheless, Wale attributes a lot of his success to those who supported and guided him and his dream of playing professional hockey.
“Family and friends are everything for me…my parents have been great…getting me to the rink every day when I was younger…my mom has always been there to support me [and] it was my dad…pushing me to get better, shooting pucks and working out. My grandparents helped when they could [and] all of my family that came out to watch and support me, and my teammates I’ve played with over the years [that] have become friends. Teammates are important because you can’t have individual success without good teammates, [and] good coaches too,” said Wale.
However, Wale singles out one particular person who has been key in reaching his goals.
“The one consistent person who has been an important part of this journey would have to be my dad. He’s been there for me at every step of the way. He’s been the major driver in helping me in my career…always pushing me to get better. Honestly, without my family, friends, coaches and teammates, and especially without my dad, I wouldn’t be where I am today,” shared Wale.
